Catalytic activity of nano-sized CuO on AP-CMDB propellant

In this work, nano-sized CuO prepared by mechanical grinding method was applied to the AP-CMDB propellant. The catalytic activity of nano-sized CuO on AP-CMDB propellant was investigated by thermogravimetric analysis/differential scanning calorimetric techniques. The combustion rates at atmospheric pressure of AP-CMDB propellant modified by nano-sized CuO were measured by strand burner method. The experimental results show enhancements on the thermal decomposition and combustion of AP-CMDB propellant in the presence of nano-sized CuO. Compared with blank propellant, the thermal decomposition temperature of AP-CMDB propellant shifts downward. Simultaneously, the combustion rate of AP-CMDB propellant at atmospheric pressure increases by about 22.2%. Encouragingly, the catalytic activity of nano-sized CuO on AP-CMDB propellant is superior to that of the bulk CuO, which leads to a potential application of nano-sized CuO in the AP-CMDB propellant.